Q10. Who were the two Governors-General of the Dominion of India between 1947 and 1950?
[UP Police Sub-Inspector, 16 December 2017, Shift 2]
(A) Lord Mountbatten and Jawaharlal Nehru
(B) Lord Mountbatten and Rajendra Prasad
(C) Rajendra Prasad and C. Rajagopalachari
(D) Lord Mountbatten and C. Rajagopalachari
Answer: (D) Lord Mountbatten and C. Rajagopalachari
Explanation: Mountbatten served as Governor-General from August 1947 until June 1948. C. Rajagopalachari succeeded him and served until January 1950. The post disappeared when the Constitution came into force and Rajendra Prasad became the first President of the Republic of India.
Q9. In which month and year did the British Parliament pass the Indian Independence Act?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2017]
(A) July 1947
(B) June 1946
(C) August 1947
(D) August 1946
Answer: (A) July 1947
Explanation: The Indian Independence Act received Royal Assent in July 1947 and took effect for the creation of the new dominions in August. This distinction between the date of legislation and the appointed independence date frequently appears in constitutional history questions.
Q8. Who was the last Viceroy of India under British rule?
[BSSC Inter Level Examination, 29 January 2017]
(A) Lord Mountbatten
(B) Lord Wavell
(C) Lord Irwin
(D) Lord Minto
Answer: (A) Lord Mountbatten
Explanation: Mountbatten was the final Viceroy of British India, serving from March to August 1947. He supervised the final stages of negotiations leading to Partition and independence. The office of Viceroy ceased with the end of British rule.
Q7. Which Act is associated with the introduction of a system described as constitutional autocracy in British India?
[MPPSC State Service Preliminary Examination, 2017]
(A) Indian Councils Act, 1909
(B) Government of India Act, 1919
(C) Government of India Act, 1935
(D) Indian Independence Act, 1947
Answer: (C) Government of India Act, 1935
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1935, introduced provincial autonomy but retained extensive discretionary and emergency powers for governors and the Governor-General. Its centralized safeguards were criticized as restricting responsible government. The adapted Act provided transitional administrative arrangements after independence.
Q6. Which of the following statements about the transfer of power and Partition of India is NOT correct?
[UPSC CAPF (AC), 12 July 2015]
(A) Attlee announced in February 1947 that Britain would not transfer power to Indians under any circumstances.
(B) Lord Wavell had considered an organized British withdrawal from India.
(C) Mountbatten accelerated the timetable for transferring power.
(D) Mountbatten’s early alternative arrangements for withdrawal encountered opposition.
Answer: (A) Attlee announced in February 1947 that Britain would not transfer power to Indians under any circumstances.
Explanation: Attlee actually announced on 20 February 1947 that Britain intended to transfer power by June 1948. The statement established a withdrawal deadline and increased pressure for a settlement. Mountbatten subsequently advanced the transfer to August 1947, intensifying administrative challenges.
Q5. Which Act made the Constituent Assemblies of the new Indian dominions legally competent to frame their own constitutions?
[RPSC Senior Teacher Examination, 2015]
(A) Cabinet Mission Scheme, 1946
(B) Declaration of the British Crown, 1858
(C) Indian Independence Act, 1947
(D) An executive order of the Governor-General
Answer: (C) Indian Independence Act, 1947
Explanation: The Indian Independence Act recognized the authority of the dominions’ constitution-making institutions and provided for legislative independence. India’s Constituent Assembly consequently continued drafting its Constitution after independence. The resulting Constitution replaced the dominion framework when India became a republic in 1950.
Q4. The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to:
[UPSC CSE Prelims, 24 August 2014]
(A) Solve the problem of minorities in India.
(B) Give effect to the Independence Bill.
(C) Delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan.
(D) Investigate communal riots in East Bengal.
Answer: (C) Delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan.
Explanation: Sir Cyril Radcliffe chaired the boundary commissions that determined the division of Punjab and Bengal. The Radcliffe Award was made public on 17 August 1947, after independence. The resulting boundaries separated communities, agricultural regions and transportation systems.
Q3. The Mountbatten Plan became the basis for which of the following developments?
[UPPCS Preliminary Examination, 2013]
(A) Continuation of British rule in India
(B) Transfer of power without territorial division
(C) Partition of India
(D) Complete resolution of communal conflict
Answer: (C) Partition of India
Explanation: Announced on 3 June 1947, the Mountbatten Plan provided the political framework for Partition. It accepted separate dominions and established procedures for determining territorial boundaries. The British Parliament subsequently enacted the Indian Independence Act to implement the transfer of power.
Q2. Match the following personalities associated with the Constituent Assembly:
A. First Vice-President of the Constituent Assembly — (i) V. T. Krishnamachari
B. Congress member of the Drafting Committee — (ii) Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Representative associated with Rajasthan’s princely states — (iii) K. M. Munshi
D. Chairman of the committee dealing with princely states — (iv) H. C. Mookerjee
[RPSC RAS Preliminary Examination, 2013]
(A) A–i, B–iv, C–ii, D–iii
(B) A–iv, B–iii, C–i, D–ii
(C) A–i, B–ii, C–iii, D–iv
(D) A–iii, B–iv, C–i, D–ii
Answer: (B) A–iv, B–iii, C–i, D–ii
Explanation: H. C. Mookerjee served as the Constituent Assembly’s first Vice-President. K. M. Munshi was a member of the Drafting Committee, while V. T. Krishnamachari represented princely-state interests. Jawaharlal Nehru chaired the States Committee concerned with constitutional arrangements involving princely states.
Q1. Who was the President of the Indian National Congress when India attained independence in 1947?
[46th BPSC Preliminary Examination, 2004]
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru
(B) Rajendra Prasad
(C) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
(D) J. B. Kripalani
Answer: (D) J. B. Kripalani
Explanation: Acharya J. B. Kripalani was Congress President during the transfer of power in August 1947. Nehru became India’s first Prime Minister, while Patel handled important matters of administration and princely-state integration. Congress leadership accepted Partition as part of the final political settlement.
